Contents

Premise

The gang is in Australia to investigate a sabertooth tiger sighting on an animal reserve. It seems that both the sabertooth tiger and a group of feral cats have been harassing the game commissioners. The land was bought from an industrialist, Mr. Farnham. As Velma interviews the business man, she is not convinced that he is involved. The gang goes in search of the tiger.

Locations

Notes/trivia

Reception

Well, crud. I only have four comic books this week, and Scooby-Doo which usually offers superior entertainment fails miserably. The issue's not Scrappy-Doo bad, but it could have been so much better.

Frank Strom scribes the first story, which involves ABCs in Australia. ABC is an acronym for the Fortean term Alien Big Cats. England has been the spot for more than sightings of these feral beasties, and nobody is suggesting that the Grays had anything to do with unusual bestiary. Instead, the supposition is that a bobcat raised tame escapes its owner and turns wild much to the dismay of the local livestock. Another woollier possibility is that sometime in the past, a wild cat escapes and mates with say a large surprised stray tabby to produce a hybrid that runs havoc with its rural environs.

Mr. Strom sets up a fairly interesting premise in which the Gang are called in to investigate reports of an ABC attacking personnel at the Herriot Wildlife Preserve. There's substance to this since constables rather than Mulder and Scully usually scour the English countryside looking for hide and hair of ABCs. Mr. Strom does not however follow through with a plausible motive.

The international community would frown on any expert taking advantage of the consequences detailed in the story. The villain of the piece would not make any money off the deal, and his business acumen must seriously be doubted if he thinks otherwise.

Little things also trip up the story toward the end. The Gang treat the ABCs as if they were housecats even after the head honcho of the Preserve explains what such introductions mean to the ecosystem.

Joe Staton's artwork as usual flawlessly captures the look of Mystery Inc. and creates a distinctive supporting cast. However, the villain of the piece practically telegraphs his own diabolism.[1]